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Hard Drive Partitions

BIOS/MBR-based hard drive partitions

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-biosmbr-based-hard-drive-partitions

Hard drives and partitions

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/hard-drives-and-partitions

UEFI/GPT-based hard drive partitions

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/configure-uefigpt-based-hard-drive-partitions

Exploring Win10 Clean Install Default Disk Layout

  • https://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/blog/Windows-Enterprise-Desktop/Exploring-Win10-Clean-Install-Default-Disk-Layout

Boot problems

Bootsect Command-Line Options

  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/bootsect-command-line-options

FIX bootrec /FixBoot Access is denied error on Windows 10

  • https://www.thewindowsclub.com/fix-bootrec-fixboot-access-is-denied-error-on-windows-10

 

Create Windows Bootable ISO from folder

  • Use ImgBurn
    • Advanced Tab -> Bootable Disc Tab
    • Check "Make Image Bootable"
    • Set "Boot Image" to file in "\boot\" folder of windows files
    • Set "Developer ID" to "Microsoft Corporation"
    • Set "Load Segment" to "07C0"
    • Set "Sectors To Load" to size of the boot image file in bytes divided by 512
      • If file is 2K, use 4
      • If file is 4K, use 8
    • Accept the change to "UDF" from "ISO9660 + UDF"
    • Source: http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=11194

 

RDP

RDP to console

  • Copy to clipboard
    mstsc /admin

Clipboard stops working

List RDP sessions

  • Copy to clipboard
    query session [/server:ServerName]
  • Copy to clipboard
    qwinsta [/server:ServerName]

Logoff RDP Connection

  • Copy to clipboard
    reset session {sessionname | sessionid} [/SERVER:servername] [/V]
  • Copy to clipboard
    rwinsta {sessionname | sessionid} [/SERVER:servername] [/V]

No more MSTSC.exe /CONSOLE

Microsoft Account

  • MicrosoftAccount\name@outlook.com

 

WhoAmI in DOS

  • Copy to clipboard
    echo %USERDOMAIN%\%USERNAME%

 

Force Windows to set folder customization to General Folder

  • Regedit.exe
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell
  • New -> String Value "FolderType " -> Data "NotSpecified "

 

How to shrink a partition with unmovable files in Windows

  • Turn off system files
    • 1- Disable System Restore (Right click on Computer => Properties => System Protection => System Restore)
    • 2- Disable Virtual Memory (Right click on Comptuer => Properties => Advanced System Settings => Performance (Settings) => Advanced Tab => Virtual Memory (Change) => No Paging File => Set.
    • 3- Run Disk Cleanup to get rid of Thumbnails, Temporary Internet Files, and a bunch of other files that it makes no sense why they are immovable.
    • 4- Restart the computer to have #1 and #2 take effect
  • Try to shrink the volume again
  • If it still is unreasonably large, you will then have to look at Event Viewer to find which file is at the boundary.
    • 1- Right click on Computer => Manage => Event Viewer => Windows Logs => Application.
    • 2- Click on Filter Current Log, and put "™259"² for the Event ID
    • 3- Click on the latest event and look through the detail to find the problematic file. You can then attempt to delete that file (or set of files) manually. You may have to restart into safe mode to delete some files
  • Source: http://www.brandonchecketts.com/archives/how-to-shrink-a-partition-with-unmovable-files-in-windows-7

 

Mount .vdi images to Windows filesystem

 

Edit Windows Installer files

  • Orca Database Editor from Windows SDK
    • http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255905

 

iSCSI on Windows

  • StarWind: Free version of iSCSI for Windows
    • http://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-free
    • http://blog.zensoftware.co.uk/2012/05/08/build-an-iscsi-target-on-any-windows-os-for-free/
  • Microsoft's iSCSI Software Target 3.3 - only for Servers
    • Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3
  • Remove SKU limitation on Microsoft's iSCSI Software Target to use on desktop versions

 

Make Windows use UTC

  • Run regedit and navigate to
    Copy to clipboard
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation
  • Create New DWORD value RealTimeIsUniversal = 1

 

Run a program under a different domain or domain account

  • runas /netonly /user:REALDOMAIN\YOURDOMAINUSERNAME "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE\ssms.exe"
  • The command line will then ask you for the password

 

Run a program under a different user name for non-domain local Windows (Home)

  • runas /user:USERNAME "cmd"
  • The command line will then ask you for the password
  • Using the above version with /netonly will give the error:
    • RUNAS ERROR: Unable to acquire user password

 

Windows Server 2012 Updates

 

Make services window default to simple view instead of extended

 

Quickly Open Startup Folder

  • Open Run box - Windows key + R
  • Type: "shell:startup"

 

Unofficial Windows Guides

 

How to Download Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 Installation Media Legally

 

Create installation media for Windows 8.1

 

Wake on Lan (WOL)

 

hibernate/shutdown/restart via Remote Desktop

 

Remove "Get Windows 10" App and Its Icon from Taskbar, GWX

  • Uninstall KB3035583 update
    • http://www.askvg.com/how-to-remove-get-windows-10-app-and-its-icon-from-taskbar/
  • Gibson Research Center Never 10
    • https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

 

Windows 7 SP1 Updates slowing down, and Windows Server 2008 R2

 

List Percent CPU Usage from command line

 

Windows Shutdown entries in Windows Event Log

  • Event Id = 6005
    • The Event log service was started
  • Event Id = 6006
    • The Event log service was stopped
  • Event Id = 6008
    • The previous system shutdown at time on date was unexpected
  • Event Id = 6009
    • Logged during every boot and indicates the operating system version, build number, service pack level, and other information about the system
  • Event Id = 1074
    • When an application causes the system to restart, or when the user initiates a restart or shutdown
  • Source = User32
    • Haven't seen Event Id 1074 where Source <> User32
  • Resources:

 

Free Disk Space

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    wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, freespace, size

 

How To Enable Snipping Tool, Windows Media Player and more Desktop Experience Tools on Windows Server 2008-2012 R2

 

How to retrieve available RAM from Windows command line

 

Different memory usage display in windows Task Manager and tasklist

Add Seconds to Taskbar Clock

Window Borders

Windows Settings

Windows Vista

Registry Settings for Windows Vista

  • https://www.fiveanddime.net/windows-vista-notes/windows-vista-registry-settings.html

 

Windows 8

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cdnstudents/archive/2012/09/04/some-useful-keyboard-shortcuts-for-windows-8.aspx

Enable Hibernate

  • Go to Power Options
    • One method is to left click on the power/battery icon and select More Power Options
  • On left panel, select Choose What The Power Buttons Do
  • Top, middle, select Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable
  • Scroll down to Shutdown Settings
  • Check Hibernate

Uninstall Windows Product Key

  • slmgr /dlv
  • slmrg /upk ....
  • http://www.howtogeek.com/124286/how-to-uninstall-your-windows-product-key-before-you-sell-your-pc/

Recover lost Windows product key

  • http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Temporarily remove Hibernate file hiberfil.sys

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  • powercfg /hibernate off
  • This deletes hiberfil.sys
  • Do defrag (or whatever needed to be done)
  • powercfg /hibernate on

Connect to PPTP VPN with Windows settings

  • Error message: Error Connecting to VPN – Error 850: The Extensible Authentication Protocol type required for authentication
  • https://sysadminspot.com/server-administration/error-connecting-to-virtual-private-network-pptp-error-850-the-extensible-authentication-protocol-type-required-for-authentication/

 

Windows Server 2008 R2

  • Terminal Services was renamed Remote Desktop Services